The Associated PressKenny Chesney performs "Out Last Night" at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday. Chesney was set to play the New York State Fair this summer, but the contract with the producer who booked the country Western star has been voided.

Syracuse, N. Y. -- In Hollywood, they say the show must go on.

But the New York State Fair's concerts this summer could be in trouble because the state comptroller's office on Tuesday voided the fair's contract with the producer who booked country star Kenny Chesney and other national acts to perform at the fair.

The shows will go on, a state fair spokeswoman vowed Tuesday evening, but she declined to explain how the fair will proceed in light of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's ruling.

The fair has already sold thousands of tickets for concerts featuring Chesney, Kelly Clarkson and Motley Crue.

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale April 25 for two other Grandstand shows that Triangle booked -- country duo Big & Rich and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham.

Triangle also booked six performers -- including Boyz II Men and The Four Tops -- to perform free shows at the fair, scheduled Aug. 27 through Sept. 7.

"This will not prevent the announced concert series from taking place at the New York State Fair this year," said Jessica Chittenden, a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture & Markets, which oversees the fair.

Ag & Markets is reviewing the ruling by the comptroller's staff, said Chittenden.

The fair's deal with Triangle would have saved New York more than $600,000 over what it spent last year. New York gave a $700,000 no-bid contract to Live Nation Worldwide to produce the concerts at the 2008 state fair.

Triangle was the low bidder for the 2009 state fair contract, but DiNapoli's staff rejected Triangle's bid because it did not conform with the request for proposals issued by the Department of Agriculture & Markets, which oversees the fair, Freeman said.

Ag & Markets required companies to submit bids based on the fee they would charge the fair for each concert ticket sold. The Ag & Markets RFP also required bidders to agree to forego payment for a show if less than 5,000 tickets were sold.

Triangle submitted a flat fee for each show and the fee was not tied to the number of tickets sold.

The comptroller's staff ruled it would be unfair to other bidders to approve the deal, Freeman said.

Triangle Talent CEO David Snowden said Tuesday evening he was unaware of the comptroller's ruling.

"I know nothing at all about this," Snowden said. "As far as I know everything has been fine and we have met every single item requested."

Triangle had to start booking entertainers for the state fair before the comptroller reviewed the contract, Snowden said. It would have been too late to get the best acts if Triangle had waited.

He expressed optimism that the State Fair shows would go on.

"I feel certain this can and will be resolved," he said.

It will be up to Ag & Markets to decide if it will seek new bids to produce the fair's concerts, Freeman said.

Ag & Markets may also ask the comptroller's office for an emergency waiver from bidding requirements, Freeeman said.

That's what happened in 2008, when Ag & Markets awarded Live Nation Worldwide the $700,000 no-bid contract to produce the concerts.